Birmingham, AL – The UAB Blazers (2-2, 1-0) pressured Navy’s passing offense throughout the game, and Bam McReynolds scored on runs of ten and 48 yards including the game-winner in their American Athletic opener. The Blazer defense recorded six sacks, 10 tackles for losses and recovered two fumbles despite the Midshipmen outgaining them in total offense 353 to 290 yards. In situations on third and long, the Mids could not stop the Blazer pass rush that resulted in punts.
Punting got Navy (1-2, 0-2) started on the proverbial “wrong foot.” P Jacob Carlson’s first punt only went for 29 yards, but 15 more yards were tacked on a roughing call against UAB. Carlson’s next punt only netted 13 yards to put UAB at Navy’s 40-yard line. The first period expired, 0-0.
UAB explodes in frantic second quarter
Four seconds into the second, Bam McReynolds swept right for a ten-yard touchdown to put UAB on the board. On Navy’s ensuing possession, QB Jackson Gutierrez, subbing for injured Braxton Woodson, raced 48 yards to the Birmingham ten. On a run-pass option, he took it in from the four to tie the game, 7-7. Relying on McReynolds with speed to the outside, the UAB offense mixed in runs with their big, powerful FB Rod Robinson, a transfer from Georgia. The combination set up Jonah Delange for a 36-yard FG to retake the lead, 10-7.
Navy came up with a big play on its next possession. Gutierrez connected with Freshman WR Truman Brasfield on a 39-yard completion at the UAB 24. Nolan Bartely, another Navy Freshman (plebe), booted a 34-yard FG right before the two-minute time-out.
Two two-minute drills
Tied 10-10, Blazer first-year HC Alex Mortensen (son of late NFL analyst Chris) decided his team needed another score before Navy took the second half kick-off. With 1:11 to play in the half, UAB QB Ryder Burton (13 for 20, 174 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) connected with WR Ty Mims for a 56-yard catch and run for a touchdown.
The new offensive lineup put together by Mortensen impressed Guest Game Analyst (GGA) Mike Malinack (USNA ’78) and I. UAB looked much better coached than when we had seen Navy win here at Protective Stadium two years ago, 41-18.
Mids manage clock well
Navy, who rarely succeeds in long drives with a minute left to play, started from their 25. Gutierrez gains on the ground and two timeouts put them at the UAB 46. On the next play, Gutierrez hit RB Vic Lisorti out to the left for a short pass. He took it to the UAB seven. On the next play Blazer CB Jotavian Pierce streaked in to drop the QB for a seven-yard loss. CB Darrel Sweeting broke up a pass in the end zone. Navy settled for another Bartley FG from 31 out to trail at the half, 17-13.
Fast third period
Both defenses forced punts on the first two possessions. On the second, Navy’s return team came up with a 23-yard return by Charles Robinson to get started on the UAB 47. Navy overcame its inability to convert on third downs. On third and eleven, Gutirrez connected with RB Isaiah Robinson for a 14-yard pick-up to the UAB 23. Lisorti finished off the drive with a seven-yard TD run up the middle. Navy led for the first time with 4:24 left in the third, 20-17.
The Mids defense seemed to have control. LB Coleman Cauley sacked Burton for a seven-yard loss. On the last play of the third, UAB completed a 12-yard pass for a first down.
Momentum swings big to UAB in the Fourth
Navy sacked Burton once again for seven yards again to start the final period. Two plays later, SS Giuseppe Sessi intercepted Burton’s pass to set Navy up from its 23. Navy in command now? In four plays, Navy drove to the UAB 37. Navy attempted to deceive with a pass on first down. However, Gutierrez dropped back in the pocket and got slammed by DE Marlin Dean. The ball came loose and DL Chris Spencer recovered at the Navy 48.
One play later, boom! McReynolds shimmied toward the middle of the line, read his blocking and broke left around the line to go all the way and put UAB in the lead, 24-20. Mike and I observed McReynolds has the great speed and Robinson adds the power in an improving one-two combination for UAB. 10:36 remained. Plenty of time and all time-outs remained to put more points on the board for both teams.
As Lee Corso would say, “Not so fast, my friend.”
Navy started from its 25 once again and started to drive past midfield. A handoff between Gutierrez and RB Micheal Barrow didn’t mesh well, mishandled the ball, and Dean recovered for the Blazers. A sack by Navy LB MarcAnthony Parker, who had three on the day among his ten stops, forced a Blazer punt from their 45. Navy started from its nine and still possessed three time-outs with 2:56 to play. The Mids drove out to the 37. On fourth and ten, Gutierrez threw an incomplete pass. Mike and I wondered why HC Brian Newberry had not called any time-outs to settle his team and analyze some plays for the series.
Instead, Newberry used all three as UAB drove far enough to attempt a 47-yard FG. It sailed wide. Navy had the ball with 42 seconds left from their 29 with no time-outs. Three plays for -10 yards. UAB celebrated its second win of the season against the American Athletic‘s pre-season favorite. Mike and I agree that first year HC Mortensen has his Blazers heading in a good direction. As for Navy HC Brian Newberry, he has to be perplexed. Seven sacks and ten tackles for losses do not stand well with his team whose primary strength comes supposedly from its offensive line.
Next up for UAB and Navy in Week Five; still a Saturday evening clash ahead for us
On October 3, UAB stays at home to host FCS Samford whose home is a short drive from Brimingham in Homewood, Alabama. The Bulldogs of the Southern Conference stand at 1-3. They won their first game of the season last week over winless VMI, 45-7. The Keydets probably sit at the bottom of the FCS barrel. After that, the Blazers head to meet AAC foe Memphis, currently 3-1, with the lone loss at Boise State.
No time to relax for Navy. They travel to Colorado Springs to play archrival Air Force (2-1). The Falcons return home after last week’s 36-33 (2 OT) win at Nevada. And surely after last year’s 34-31 loss at Navy during their 4-8 season a year ago, the Falcons will be primed for this one.
Before Week Five begins, we make another stop the day after this one. We head to New Orleans to see our first Tulane home game in which we will see them in their current home venue, Yulman Stadium. Yulman becomes our 103rd FBS campus stadium we will attend, 204th college venue overall. Tulane (1-2) hosts their neighbor to the north, Southern Mississippi (1-2) in their Battle for the Bell.
Read more fun history of many games attended our first 42 Seasons!
If you haven’t already, please click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Ugly on Amazon.com. Among 746 college games attended to date now, we’ve seen all 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams play in person. In 2026, in case you aren’t aware, North Dakota State and Sacramento State join the FBS this season. “Fifty Years” tells our story of how we got to attend our first 652 games!
Read the reviews on the book page and order your copy today. If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023. Hopefully, you’ll understand how much we love this sport and what we propose for it to survive successfully. In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales.
Capture some memories
Please buy your copy today and read about the many great memories captured. Maybe some will bring back some of the same memories you encountered when we did. And to us this isn’t a job. It’s our lifelong adventure!
Edited and written by Stephen J. Koreivo, member of Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Author of “Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly.”
